- OTHER MEDIA
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- review in the SF Weekly
- by Nathaniel Eaton
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- Two years ago performer Slash Coleman's best friend was electrocuted
while hanging a neon sign. Frustrated while trying to put together a memento
box for his departed friend's newborn son, Coleman wrote this solo show
instead. Billed as a "spiritual rock 'n' roll comedy about best friends,"
the performance plays out like a heartfelt living memorial to a relationship
that offered Coleman a sacred home in his ungrounded life. Careening between
reenacting pivotal moments of their friendship and philosophizing about
his own life's direction, Coleman has such manic pacing that he practically
trips over his words while unnecessarily miming every physical action.
Although there are plenty of colorful characters and chuckles along the
way, it's when he slows down to reflect and picks up his acoustic guitar
to sing to his friend that his grief and sorrow are beautifully conveyed.
When the acting is less precious and hectic, The Neon Man and Me transcends
this one particular situation and becomes a rumination on the holes in
the spirit that only a longtime friend can fill — as well as an ode
to home
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